E-mailers want a definition of “walk-off” and the irony of Fan Appreciation Day explained, among other things. Read on:

        Q, from Will in Cincinnati: I'm a regular reader and have two questions.

        l.) In a recent story, you used the phrase “the Reds' seventh walk-off victory of the year.” I've been a baseball nut for more than 60 years and have never come across the adjective “walk-off” until recently. I have no idea what it means and would welcome an explanation. Why “walk-off” anyway?

        2.) What has become of Dmitri Young? I haven't seen his name in the Tigers' box scores for months. Is he hurt?

        A: “Walk-off” means just what it sounds like. The home team scores a run in the bottom of the ninth or in extra innings, and the visitors have to walk off the field while the home team celebrates.

        Dmitri Young had hernia surgery and only recently resumed baseball activities. He could return to Detroit's lineup sometime in September.

        Q, from Lorna in Centerville: Am I the only one who finds it extremely ironic that, amidst the war between the billionaire owners and millionaire players, the Reds have Fan Appreciation Day scheduled for Sunday, Sept.15?

        A: Some folks would use a stronger word than irony. If the players do go out (my hunch still is they won't), the Reds ought to have some Fan Appreciation Day or Days anyway. Invite fans to Cinergy, let them on the field to run the bases, shag flies and the like. Then close down the old concrete bowl with a huge fireworks display.

        Q, from Roscoe: The Reds are where they are supposed to be, but it is hard to see some of the trades they have made in the last couple of years. Pokey Reese should be at shortstop and (they should have gotten a) front-line pitcher for Barry Larkin. Hometown players Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. are taking up space — one day in the lineup and the next few days off. The Reds could have had two good starting pitchers for the price of Larkin and Griffey. And looking at the pitcher they picked up from the Marlins — I won't even say his name — what has he done? I have been a Reds fan from the old Crosley Field days. It is going to be a joke putting this team in the new home next door to open next season . ... The Seattle Mariners are doing great without Griffey. They were only waiting for the chance to unload him. Larkin was great in his days, but there comes a time to let go.

        A: That's a lot to digest there, Roscoe.

        I don't think Reese was the answer. Larkin's offensive numbers this year — his worst in the majors — are still better than Reese's, and Larkin has played excellent defense. When the Reds had a trade worked out for Larkin in 2000, it wasn't for a top-line pitcher.

        As for Griffey, he has been hurt.

        Seattle didn't want to get rid of him. In fact, the Mariners offered him a lot of money to stay.

        Q, from Bill in Villa Hills, Ky.: Positive thought of the year: Sean Casey and Ken Griffey, Jr. taking the time to visit young Casey McAlister at Children's Hospital. Negative thought of the year: Bartolo Colon and Scott Rolen slipping through the Reds' fingers due to Uncle Carl's tight purse strings. What were your positive and negative moments of the year?

        A: I'll go with the negative first: the labor dispute. My guess is 80 to 90 percent of the players would take the owners' proposal today if it were put to secret ballot. Everyone knows there's a problem. Fix it quietly and move on. This war of words every four years is getting old.

        As far as positive, I'd have to say watching the development of Austin Kearns. He's a terrific hitter, but there's also an air of anticipation every time he fields a ball in right with the chance to make a throw. But I'm glad you mentioned the Casey-Griffey visit. The most touching moment of the year for me was seeing the two children of firefighter Kenny Marino, one of the victims of Sept.11, crawling all over Griffey in the Reds' dugout before a Mets game.

        Griffey quietly does a lot of good things off the field.

Reds 5, Astros 3 Reds Box, Runs Reds hurlers lick wounds, escape DL Dunn shakes slump Online with John Fay Reds chatter Cinergy countdown No. 12 Down on the farm For Whom the Tax Tolls Five questions with George Will Hall of Famer Wilhelm dies Texas paper to withhold baseball coverage Cubs 4, Diamondbacks 0 Phillies 4, Cardinals 0 Pirates 17, Brewers 10 Here comes da Fonz John Fay's MLB Power rankings Louisville 5, Indianapolis 1

Frerotte makes his move in QB race
Saints-Bengals Stats
Williams expects defensive line to be dominant
Bengals Q&A
Fun 'N' Gun batters Bucs
NFL notebook
Elder 42, Dixie Heights 7
Moeller 21, Colerain 14
Princeton 30, Springfield South 27
St. Xavier 10, Sycamore 7
Bellevue 33, Harrodsburg 28
Fairfield 41, La Salle 18
Harrison 27, Oak Hills 10
Loveland 49, Northwest 21
N. College Hill 39, Finneytown 14
Norwood 41, Taylor 18
Summit Country Day 40, Mississinawa Valley 16
Winton Woods 31, Hughes 2
Groeschen: Prep Insider
Boys cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls cross country
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis
Girls volleyball results
Daugherty: Life twist that's beyond words
Learning the ropes
Five questions with Jared Lorenzen
SCHMIDT: Kentucky insider
Buckeyes impressive in opener
Nebraska pounds Arizona St.
Kentucky advances to World Series final
Little Leaguers perplexed by strike talk
A shootout looms at Sahalee
Serena Williams No. 1 in her family - and world
Da Matta keeps rolling
Kehres shares reasons for his team's success
Sadler gets a fresh start
Medaglia d'Oro holds off Repent to take Travers
Page Two power rankings

• Return to Reds front page...